2006 in British radio

• 16 January – FM102 The Bear in Stratford-upon-Avon and Kix 96 in Coventry are merged and relaunched as Touch FM
• 23 January – Former XFM presenter Christian O'Connell joins Virgin Radio to present The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show.{{cite news|url= http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/534998/virgin-shouts-oconnells-arrival-breakfast-show-campaigns-kick-off/|title= Virgin shouts about O'Connell's arrival as breakfast show campaigns kick off|first= Daniel|last= Farey-Jones|work= Brand Republic|date= 11 January 2006|accessdate= 23 July 2012}}

• February – The A List launches on Heart, Real Radio and Century FM. Featuring adult contemporary music, the programme is presented by Melanie Sykes and Nick Snaith.
• 6 February – BRMB's second "Two Strangers and a Wedding" competition ends with the marriage of Craig Cooper and Rebecca Duffy at Birmingham's Hotel du Vin.{{cite news|first=Paul |last=Lewis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/07/commercialradio.radio1 |title=Strangers marry after match made on radio station | Media |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 February 2006 |accessdate=14 February 2012}}
• 28 February – Radio 2 Drivetime presenter Johnnie Walker announces he will leave the show after seven years. He will present his last show on 31 March.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4760328.stm|title= Drivetime DJ Walker to step down|publisher= BBC News|date= 28 February 2006|accessdate= 18 December 2009}}

• 2 March – Chris Evans is announced as Johnnie Walker's replacement on BBC Radio 2's Drivetime show from April.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4766066.stm|title= Evans to host Radio 2 Drivetime|publisher= BBC News|date= 2 March 2006|accessdate= 18 December 2009}}
• 8 March – Radio 1 launches its YouTube channel.

• 3 April – BBC GMR reverts to its original name of BBC Radio Manchester.
• 9 April – Russell Brand presents his first Saturday night Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2.
• 18 April – Chris Evans takes over Radio 2's Drivetime show from Johnnie Walker.
• 19 April –
• London's 102.2 Smooth FM gives away £118,454 to a listener from Essex who correctly identifies their Secret Song as Diana Ross's My Old Piano. The Secret Song has been running since November 2005 and, at this time is the biggest cash prize on radio this century.{{cite news|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/04/capital-and-smooth-fm-pay-out/ |title=Capital and Smooth FM pay-out |publisher=Radio Today |date=20 April 2006 |accessdate=26 January 2012}}
• Insight Radio is rebranded as RNIB Connect Radio.[https://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/sight-loss-radio-station-changes-its-name Sight loss radio station changes its name]
• 23 April – The Radio 4 UK Theme is used for the last time, amid controversy over its axing by Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4640990.stm|work=BBC News Online|title=UK Theme to be dropped by Radio 4|date=23 January 2006|access-date=2 February 2014}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/03_march/31/radio4.shtml|work=BBC – Press Office|date=31 March 2006|title=Radio 4's new-look early mornings|access-date=2 February 2014}} The decision to axe the theme, which had been used since 1978, to make way for a 'pacy news briefing' led to widespread coverage in the media and even debate in Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060125/debtext/60125-03.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 25 Jan 2006 (pt 3)|date=25 January 2006|access-date=3 February 2014}}
• 29 April – In some areas Centre FM is renamed as Touch FM.
• April – The timeslot for Bob Harris's Saturday evening show on Radio 2 is moved forward an hour, meaning it airs from 11{{nbsp}}pm to 2{{nbsp}}am instead of 10{{nbsp}}pm to 1{{nbsp}}am.

• No events

• 24 June – The final edition of Home Truths is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
• June – Nick Clarke broadcasts Fighting to Be Normal on BBC Radio 4, an audio diary of his treatment for cancer. In August he returns to presenting The World at One on the network, but his last appearance is on 12 September and he dies on 23 November.

• 25 July – A Secret Song competition on Manchester's 100.4 Smooth FM is won by a listener who correctly identifies the track as Razzamatazz by Quincy Jones. The competition had been running since 27 March with the prize money standing at £86,500 at the time it was won.{{cite news|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/07/smooth-fm-listener-wins-86k/|title=Smooth FM listener wins 86k|publisher=Radio Today|date=25 July 2006|accessdate=26 January 2012}}
• July – Networking is increased on the north of England Magic stations when the local afternoon show is dropped in favour of a networked programme. Consequently, only the breakfast show is locally produced.

• 27 August – Sue Lawley presents her final edition of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs after eighteen years. Her last castaway is the actress Joan Plowright.{{cite news|first=Owen|last=Gibson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/aug/25/broadcasting.bbc|title=profile: Sue Lawley|newspaper=The Guardian|date=25 August 2006|accessdate=19 March 2014}}

• 6 September – Kiss 100 is relaunched after a decline in listening figures, dance stations Vibe 101 and Vibe 105-108 are also rebranded to Kiss.
• 16 September – Saturday Live, Home Truths' replacement show on BBC Radio 4, begins with Fi Glover as presenter.

• 1 October – Kirsty Young takes over as presenter of Desert Island Discs. Her first guest is children's author and illustrator Quentin Blake.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Desert+Island+Kirsty+picks+007+Kate+Moss+and+Pope.-a0152203361 |title=Desert Island Kirsty picks 007 Kate Moss and Pope |first=Billy |last=Paterson |newspaper=Sunday Mail |publisher=Trinity Mirror |date=1 October 2006 |access-date=19 March 2014}}
• 10 October – Talksport becomes the first national commercial radio broadcaster to win Premier League commentary rights. Talksport wins a package that allows it to broadcast the second choice Saturday afternoon games that kick off at 3pm – the BBC will get first pick.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/10/radio.sport|title=TalkSport wins Premiership rights|first=Julia|last=Day|date=10 October 2006|newspaper=The Guardian}}
• 22 October – A new chart show called Fresh 40 launches. Aired on the Kiss and Galaxy networks and other youth-orientated stations, it counts down the top 40 r’n’b and dance songs and is broadcast against commercial radio's Hit40uk chart programme and the BBC Radio 1 Sunday afternoon chart show.

• 3 November – Charles Wood's play The Conspiracy of Sèvres (about the 1956 Suez Crisis) is broadcast.
• 18 November – Russell Brand joins Radio 2 to present a regular weekly programme.{{cite news|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/11/brand-new-show-for-r2/ |title=Brand new show for R2 |publisher=Radio Today |date=2 November 2006 |accessdate=11 February 2012}}
• November – CTR 105.6 in Maidstone, Kent, is purchased by the KM Group, taking the number of KM-owned stations in Kent to 7.

• 8 December – CB radio in the United Kingdom becomes licence-free.
• December – GMG Radio purchases the Saga Radio Group.{{cite news|url= http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/610310/GMG-extends-network-acquisition-Saga-Radio/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH|title= GMG extends network with acquisition of Saga Radio|publisher= Brand Republic|first= Joanne|last= Payne|date= 19 December 2006|accessdate= 18 December 2009}}

• Galaxy 102.2 is renamed Galaxy Birmingham in line with other Galaxy radio stations.
• Sport on 5 is renamed 5 Live Sport.

• 14 February – Talk 107
• 25 February – Touch FM (Banbury)
• 29 June – 99.9 Radio Norwich
• 10 July – Yorkshire Radio
• 15 August – Gaydio
• 2 September – Brunel FM
• 1 October – Original 106 (Solent)
• 16 October – 107.3 Abbey FM
• 18 December – Radio Music Shop
• 25 December – theJazz[http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1359 Xmas Day launch for GCap Jazz] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022205/http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1359 |date=2007-09-27 }}. Published by Radio Today on 28 November 2006. Accessed 18 December 2009.[http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1348267&source=RNS GCap Media inc Regulatory Announcement]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Published by the London Stock Exchange on 28 November 2006. Accessed 18 December 2009

• 3 January – The Geoff Show on Virgin Radio (2006–2008)
• 23 January – The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio (later Absolute Radio) (2006–present)
• 9 April – The Russell Brand Show on BBC 6 Music (later BBC Radio 2) (2006–2008, 2010, 2013, 2017)
• 18 April – Chris Evans Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 (2006–2009)
• 12 July – The Personality Test on BBC Radio 4 (2006–2007)
• 25 August – Jest a Minute on BBC Radio Wales (2006–2009)
• September – The Dream Ticket with Joe Mace on BBC 6 Music (2006–2007)
• 8 September – 1966 and All That on BBC Radio 4 (2006)
• 18 October – The Unbelievable Truth on BBC Radio 4 (2006–present)
• 14 November – Living with the Enemy on BBC Radio 4 (2006)
• Unknown – The Bottom Line on BBC Radio 4 (2006–present)

• Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018)
• Desert Island Discs (1942–present)
• Woman's Hour (1946–present)
• A Book at Bedtime (1949–present)

• The Archers (1950–present)
• The Today Programme (1957–present)
• Your Hundred Best Tunes (1959–2007)

• Farming Today (1960–present)
• In Touch (1961–present)
• The World at One (1965–present)
• The Official Chart (1967–present)
• Just a Minute (1967–present)
• The Living World (1968–present)
• The Organist Entertains (1969–2018)

• PM (1970–present)
• Start the Week (1970–present)
• You and Yours (1970–present)
• I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–present)
• Good Morning Scotland (1973–present)
• Newsbeat (1973–present)
• File on 4 (1977–present)
• Money Box (1977–present)
• The News Quiz (1977–present)
• Feedback (1979–present)
• The Food Programme (1979–present)
• Science in Action (1979–present)

• Steve Wright in the Afternoon (1981–1993, 1999–2022)
• In Business (1983–present)
• Sounds of the 60s (1983–present)
• Loose Ends (1986–present)

• The Moral Maze (1990–present)
• Essential Selection (1991–present)
• No Commitments (1992–2007)
• Wake Up to Wogan (1993–2009)
• Essential Mix (1993–present)
• Up All Night (1994–present)
• Wake Up to Money (1994–present)
• Private Passions (1995–present)
• Parkinson's Sunday Supplement (1996–2007)
• The David Jacobs Collection (1996–2013)
• Sunday Night at 10 (1998–2013)
• In Our Time (1998–present)
• Material World (1998–present)
• Scott Mills (1998–2022)
• The Now Show (1998–present)
• Jonathan Ross (1999–2010)

• Dead Ringers (2000–2007, 2014–present)
• BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (2000–present)
• Sounds of the 70s (2000–2008, 2009–present)
• Big John @ Breakfast (2000–present)
• Parsons and Naylor's Pull-Out Sections (2001–2007)
• Jammin' (2001–2008)
• Go4It (2001–2009)
• The Jo Whiley Show (2001–2011)
• Kermode and Mayo's Film Review (2001–2022)
• The Big Toe Radio Show (2002–2011)
• A Kist o Wurds (2002–present)
• The Day the Music Died (2003–2007)
• Fighting Talk (2003–present)
• Jeremy Vine (2003–present)
• Trevor's World of Sport (2004–2007)
• The Chris Moyles Breakfast Show (2004–2012)
• Annie Mac (2004–2021)
• Elaine Paige on Sunday (2004–present)

• 22 June – It's Been a Bad Week (1999–2006)
• 31 March – Drivetime with Johnnie Walker (1998–2006)
• 4 July – Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music (2004–2006)
• 10 August – The Dream Ticket with Nemone (2005–2006)
• 29 September – 1966 and All That (2006)
• 19 December – Living with the Enemy (2006)

• 1 February – Ernest Dudley, 97, novelist, journalist, screenwriter, actor and radio broadcaster{{cite web|url=http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200berkshireheadlines/tm_objectid=16714494&method=full&siteid=50102&headline=radio-sleuth-creator-dies-aged-97-name_page.html|title=Get Reading: Latest Reading and Berkshire News, Sport and What's On|website=Icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk|accessdate=2017-01-14}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• 27 February – Linda Smith, 48, comedian
• 19 April – June Knox-Mawer, 75, romantic novelist and radio broadcaster
• 8 July – Peter Hawkins, 82, voice actor
• 5 October – Robert Dentith, 29, presenter of The Unsigned Show on Kerrang! Radio{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=286225&spid=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929071404/http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=286225&spid=|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-09-29|title=Kerrang! DJ Rob Dentith Passes Away|publisher=Kerrang! Radio|date=October 2019|accessdate=2019-11-05}}
• 21 October – Paul Walters, 59, BBC radio and TV producer[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6072478.stm Wogan producer Walters dies at 59] BBC News 21 October 2006
• 31 October – William Franklyn, 81, actor
• 23 November – Nick Clarke, 58, radio and television presenter and journalist{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6175786.stm|title= Radio 4's Nick Clarke dies at 58|publisher= BBC News|date= 23 November 2006|accessdate= 8 January 2010}}
• 27 November – Alan Freeman, 79, disc jockey and radio personality{{cite news|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=166927|title=Tributes pour in for DJ Alan Freeman|publisher=News.ninemsn.com.au|work=Nine News|date=29 November 2006|accessdate=9 January 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211095922/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=166927|archivedate=11 February 2012}}
• 18 December – Mike Dickin, 63, talkSPORT radio presenter (car accident){{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/6194773.stm|title=Entertainment | Radio host Dickin dies in crash|work=BBC News|date=2006-12-19|accessdate=2017-01-14|df=dmy-all}}
• 23 December – Charlie Drake, 81, comedian

{{reflist|2}}

Radio

British Radio, 2006 In

Category:Years in British radio